Events and Activities : Display to honor sacrifices of Benton County soldiers in Civil War

This year marks 150 years since the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. Iowans stepped up immediately to serve in the Union Army. At the beginning of the war in 1861, Benton County had a population of about 8,000 but by the end of the war the county had sent 1,000 of its citizens to war. W. C. Connell, J. S. Hunt, W. S. Pickerell, M. Thompson, W. A. Walker, John Dempsey and Edwin Jenks were the first Benton County men to sign up.

These bits of information about Benton County’s involvement in the war are a small part of how Iowans responded to President Lincoln’s call to help preserve the union.

The Benton County Historical Society is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War by sponsoring the Iowa State Historical Society’s “The Fiery Trial: Iowa and the Civil War,” in a 32-foot trailer filled with historical information about the sacrifices that Iowans made for the war. The exhibit will be part of Vinton’s 20th Annual Party in Park, Saturday, June 25th. The exhibit is free and will include an interactive computer program for people to research their ancestors who served in the war effort. The exhibit will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and will be located at Riverside Park.

The Department of Cultural Affairs received generous support for “The Fiery Trial” from sponsors EMC Insurance Foundation of Des Moines, The Union Pacific Foundation, and Qwest.

For more information; contact Barry Lefstad at 319-560-1923